Rhino Charge

by Victoria Tait

  Sam nodded to Jono, who let go of Deepak.

  Deepak turned and swung at Jono with his fist, but Jono caught it. “You’ve caused enough pain and suffering. I’m very sorry for what happened to Vadhana, but that doesn’t excuse you from making me damage Kumar’s vehicle. We caused a terrible accident. And of course Kumar is upset. Surely you of all people should understand. His child is dead.”

  Hinesh held his hand out towards Deepak. “Da, you better come with me.”

  Deepak tugged his fist out of Jono’s grasp, spat at his feet, and marched into the darkness.

  Rose spoke to Jono. “Why don’t you take Lavanya back to camp?” She turned to Hinesh, “Can you wait a moment?”

  Thabiti and Chloe rushed forward, each holding a fire extinguisher.

  “Panic over,” declared Sam.

  Thabiti’s shoulders sagged. “Now what do we do? I’ll never remember which car I grabbed this from.”

  “Let’s leave them by the entrance,” suggested Chloe. “Hopefully the right teams will spot them as they drive out.”

  Rose moved across to Sam and said, “Can you assist Kumar back to his camp? I want a private word with Hinesh.”

  She found Hinesh waiting patiently in the gloom.

  He said in a tired voice, “Our past troubles continue to haunt us.”

  They meandered between cars and left parc fermé.

  Rose asked, “Is your father on his own? I’ve not seen your mother here.”

  “This wouldn’t be her thing. But she died over thirty years ago, when a lorry knocked her off the back of a boda boda. I think that’s why Da concentrated his affection on Vadhana, who was the youngest, and then he lost her as well.”

  “Poor man. I understand it hit him deeply, so deeply that he nearly let the business collapse.”

  “He couldn’t concentrate and kept making damaging decisions, but he refused to listen to any of us. Kumar worked hard, countering many of them, and he helped me gain a better understanding of the company, and the way things worked.”

  It was lighter in the centre of camp. They paused as a group of people, looking cosy in their warm jackets, walked across their path in the direction of the Rusty Nail.

  Rose asked, “But then Kumar left?”

  Hinesh rubbed his hands together and replied, “I don’t blame him for leaving. Da was constantly angry, lashing out at us with his tongue, and at his workers… with anything that came to hand. Kumar caught him beating one of them, and that was the final straw. As I said, I don’t blame Kumar for leaving, but it was setting up in competition, when he knew we were struggling, that irked me.”

  They walked past the beer tent. There was only the dull murmur of voices, in contrast to the animated celebrations of the previous evening.

  Rose said, “How do you feel about Kumar now?”

  Hinesh shrugged. “He’s always polite to us, even to Da who refuses to be civil back. And I have a great deal of respect for him and what he has achieved with his company. In fairness, although he initially stole some of our clients, once he was established he targeted smaller hotels and restaurants. He left our contracts with the larger hotel chains and lodges alone.”

  “But earlier you were complaining Mayur was targeting your customers and undercutting you.”

  “Mayur was, but not Kumar, who I doubt knew anything about it. I understand he spends less time in the office and was beginning to bow to Mayur’s demands for more control over the business. Still, I know he would be furious if he found out what Mayur was doing.”

  Rose wondered exactly what he meant. “Undercutting you, or something else?”

  “Well, I heard last week that Mayur was talking with investors, as I was given the heads up by one of them. What a cheek, it’s our operation he was targeting.”

  They entered the Rhino Force camp via the gazebo. Beside a tent, one of the children was being subjected to a bucket bath. He stood naked in a black bucket whilst his Ayah scooped mugfuls of water out of the bucket and poured them over his soapy body.

  Rose remembered doing the same for Heather and Chris on a family safari when they were children. Chris usually attacked Heather when she was in the bucket, causing her to knock it over and the pair of them would run naked around the camp until Rose and their Ayah caught and bathed them both again.

  “But surely Kumar wouldn’t allow Mayur to target your company. I heard he was refusing to move to new premises because it was an unnecessary expense, and he was concerned about the impact on his staff.”

  “That’s why Mayur was pushing him out and it wasn’t just the business. Mayur was desperate to drive the Bandit Bush Hog’s team car, but Kumar always drove and provided the majority of the sponsorship money.”

  “So his wish was granted when Kumar had a hockey accident and injured his foot.”

  Hinesh scoffed. “That was no accident. I was playing on the opposing team. I saw Mayur deliberately stamp on his father’s foot, and he fractured two metatarsals.”

  Chapter Fifty

  Rose trekked back to the Bandit Bush Hog’s camp, picking her way carefully in the dark until she reached the brighter central area of headquarters.

  She met Chloe and Thabiti emerging from the bar. “Lavanya insisted we all stay for supper. You, too,” announced Chloe. She carefully hoisted her bag over her shoulder as glass bottles clanked inside. “I volunteered to buy the drinks.” They followed Thabiti who carried two six-packs of Tusker cans.

  Kumar sat crumpled in his plastic chair at the head of the table with a shuka blanket draped over his shoulders. Rose sat down next to him as aromatic curry dishes were placed on the table. Kumar set his jaw and pulled himself upright in his chair. His blanket fell to the floor and was picked up by one of the camp staff.

  He turned to Rose and grasped her hand. “My earlier behaviour was irrational, shameful. Please accept my apologies.”

  Rose whispered. “You scared Lavanya. She’s the one you need to apologise to.”

  Lavanya was seated at the opposite end of the table, between Thabiti and Jono. Kumar addressed her. “I’m sorry to embarrass you and force you to heed to the whims of an old man. You have done my son and myself proud providing such a feast for our guests on this sad day. Let us pray.”

  Rose was grateful for the warming food. She tasted a lentil curry. “Is this the same dish you took Mayur and Jono last night?” she asked Lavanya.

  “Similar,” responded Jono.

  “It’s delicious,” she complimented Lavanya, who rubbed her hand against her forehead. Rose saw an angry red mark on the inside of her arm, just below her wrist.

  Lavanya whipped her arm away and muttered, “Cooking accident.” Rose was not so sure, but her eyesight was not great in the dull light thrown by the paraffin lamps.

  With each mouthful, Kumar appeared to regain his strength and lucidity. He turned to Rose. “Have you found proof yet that Deepak killed my son?”

  Rose glanced at Jono, whose skin was flushed, before responding. “Deepak was playing a different game. His energy was focused on beating your team in the Rhino Charge, and I don’t believe he was involved with Mayur’s death.”

  Kumar grunted. “More likely to be his son. I remember he was good friends with Mayur at school, but their relationship soured in adulthood.”

  Kumar ate another mouthful of curry.

  Rose turned to Kumar. “I’ve just spoken to Hinesh, and he has a great respect for you. He told me you taught him to run the business when his father went off the rails after Vadhana’s death.”

  Kumar broke off a piece of chapati. “Those were difficult times for everyone. Hinesh was not the brightest boy, but he was diligent and he did well to keep the business afloat as I doubt Deepak had much input.”

  Rose leant forward and spoke quietly, “So it’s understandable Hinesh was annoyed when he discovered Mayur was undercutting them, and planning a takeover of his father’s company.”

  Kumar flinched. “I wouldn’t have allowed it. I k
now what a family business means, and the sweat and sacrifices it takes to start and grow such an enterprise. Besides, if the Seths approached me, I would consider a merger, but not a hostile takeover, however much Mayur insisted.”

  Rose asked, “Was Mayur very ambitious?”

  Kumar shook his head and replied, “He was, but for all the wrong reasons. He thought respect and standing in the community came from owning a large house and driving the latest flash car. But of course he was wrong. People are admired for what they do and how they act, not for what they have. And I repeated this mantra many times, but he chose to ignore me. As I am beginning to think he ignored many of my instructions.”

  Rose touched Kumar’s hand. “Were you close?”

  “Not particularly, and he thought I favoured his younger brother. And perhaps I do. My now departed wife spoilt Mayur and she was wrong to encourage his grandiose plans.”

  Thabiti had finished his curry and was gazing greedily at Lavanya’s plate as she giggled at something Jono said.

  Rose turned back to Kumar, “Do you think he would deliberately harm you?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Why should he?” Kumar pushed his plate of food away. He refused to look Rose in the eye.

  “Well you were standing in his way, refusing to give up control of the business and allow him to implement his expansion plans.”

  Kumar’s eyebrows gathered together. “But he is the one who died, not me.”

  Rose decided to change tack. “Was this the first year he had driven the team’s car?”

  Kumar leaned back. “I’ve always driven, since we began ten years ago. It was an ambition of mine and one of my few vices. So I worked hard and I funded the team with my own money, not the company’s. I loved it, although I will admit I am not as brave as other drivers these days. Perhaps Mayur was right to insist he drive. I heard the slope he attempted was very steep. I would have taken an alternative route.”

  Marina handed Thabiti the rice and curry dishes. He spooned their remaining contents onto his plate.

  Rose placed her knife and fork on the table and locked eyes with Kumar. “I have to ask you again, would Mayur deliberately hurt you to achieve his desires?”

  Kumar’s eyes were wide, unblinking and haunted. “I, I…” he stammered.

  Rose placed her hand on Kumar’s arm. “It’s OK. Hinesh told me about the hockey accident. He saw it happen.”

  Kumar gulped. “The Seths were on the opposition. And Mayur insisted one of them stamped on my foot and I believed him…” Kumar grasped Rose’s hand. “I knew it was Mayur, but I refused to believe, to accept it. I should have stood up to him.”

  Marina and Chloe began collecting the empty plates. Rose ignored her own unfinished one as she held Kumar’s tormented gaze. He was quivering. Rose sensed there was more. “So you paid him back?”

  The words gushed out. “I know I shouldn’t have. It was sinful.” Kumar gulped again. “When the camp was empty, and Lavanya was resting, I opened the car bonnet. I leant against the car for support and only meant to check the engine, but a wickedness overcame me. I unhooked the electrical connectors to prevent the car from starting and hid the damage under the spark plug cover.

  Thabiti is a nice boy, but he’s not a qualified mechanic. And I thought my actions would delay, or even prevent the team completing the scrutineering, which would send Mayur into a rage, and pay him back.”

  “But it didn’t.” Rose’s words were soft and soothing.

  “No.” Kumar jerked upright. “There was all the commotion about missing safety equipment. And when it was discovered and the team was ready to leave, instead of failing to start, the car purred into life. It was only later that I overheard Sam and Thabiti. They were cataloguing a sequence of occurrences they had discovered aimed at sabotaging the team’s chances of competing. The engine was one of them.

  I hadn’t meant Thabiti to get into trouble, but I’m afraid I didn’t own up.” Kumar hung his head, brought his hands together, and Rose watched his lips move. She allowed him to finish his prayer.

  The camp staff placed two bowls of small round sticky donuts on the table. Thabiti rubbed his hands together as he eyed them.

  Kumar continued, “I visited him, Mayur, in the medical tent with Lavanya’s help. He might have been injured, but his temper was undiminished. He was furious about the accident, and not about his health, but because it allowed the Seths to beat him. I think his ego was severely dented. And he told me we had to go ahead with his plans to buy out the Seths as payback for what they had done. Never mind his injuries, I thought he would have a heart attack. He was red in the face and puffing. He shouted insults at Lavanya who ran out of the tent. I found her sitting under the shade of a tree being consoled by Aatma Seth.”

  Rose thought out loud, “I wonder what he was doing there?”

  “I’ve no idea. Jono was also in the medical tent and he chastised Mayur, and told him to hold his tongue. But he received a torrent of abuse for his trouble. I actually thought Jono was going to jump out of bed and throttle Mayur where he lay.”

  Kumar hung his head again. “That was the first time I was truly ashamed of my son, and it was the last time I saw him.” Kumar sighed and shook his head. “I will end my years a lonely old man for my failings.”

  Rose leant forward. “You have another son and a daughter-in-law who dotes on you.” Kumar looked along the table at Lavanya. Her face glowed under the attention of Thabiti and Jono. “She is young with her life in front of her. She should not stay a widow. But she needs to marry a man who loves her.”

  Chapter Fifty-One

  After supper, Kumar made his excuses and Lavanya assisted him to his tent. Marina, Chloe, and Thabiti settled themselves into the folding camp chairs by the fire pit.

  Rose turned to Sam, who had remained seated at the table, and said, “You were very quiet during supper. Are you tired? It’s been a long couple of days.”

  Sam smiled slowly. “Someone once told me we have two ears and one mouth and we should remember to use them in that ratio. Besides, I learn a lot when I sit quietly and observe people.”

  Rose tilted her head and remarked, “I must say, for your size you have an unerring habit of fading into the background. And I’ve noticed that people sometimes forget you’re there. It’s not a skill I’ve ever developed, but it must have its uses, particularly in your line of business.”

  Sam nodded and wrinkled his lips, almost in amusement, she thought.

  She sat up and placed her hands on the table. “I would love to go back to my tent and just curl up in bed, but I really need to talk to the Seths again. And I hope this is the last time. I wondered if you would come with me?”

  “Of course. I’m at your disposal.”

  Rose watched Sam as they stood. He appeared relaxed, but during supper she’d noticed him occasionally tilt his head, as if he’d heard an unusual sound, or wrinkle his nose as if detecting a scent. He reminded her of an African buffalo which had poor eyesight, but keen hearing and excellent smell which warned it of approaching predators.

  She hurried to catch up with his purposeful stride and was relieved to have his reassuring presence this evening. They left the camp through the leleshwa bushes without disturbing those around the fire pit.

  “Do you want to speak to Deepak again?” Sam asked as he guided her around a broken bottle.

  “Not yet. It’s quiet cousin Aatma I want to speak to first.”

  As they stepped into the gazebo at the entrance to the Seths’ camp, they were once again confronted by Marina’s indignant cousin, Elaxi. “Where is that girl? Have you brought her back with you?”

  Rose stood straighter. She’d had enough of this woman throwing her weight around.

  Sam stepped forward. “No. Marina is relaxing with her friends. She’s eaten supper and will return in her own time.”

  “Why do I bother organising meals for her?” Elaxi flounced away.

  Rose heard Deepak shout, “Not you aga
in. What do you want now?”

  She and Sam stepped into the light thrown by several solar lamps suspended from poles in the central marquee. “We’d like to speak to Aatma.”

  Deepak spat. “He’ll be round the back smoking. Aatma,” he shouted.

  Aatma appeared in a pool of light at the side of the tent, holding a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of Tusker beer in the other. “Yes, Da?”

  “That woman’s here to speak to you again. Sit here. I’m going to use the facilities.” Deepak stalked away.

  Rose and Aatma sat down and Sam lowered himself carefully into a wooden safari chair.

  As it was nearly nine o’clock and she was getting tired, Rose drove straight to the point. “We’ve just finished supper with Kumar Chauhan who told me you were hanging around outside the medical tent yesterday evening. And I also found a number of cigarettes butts beside a tree. Did you go there to check up on Mayur?”

  Aatma removed his glasses. “Mayur? No, I went to see Jono.”

  Rose did a double take. “Oh, but I thought you were weren’t talking to him?”

  Aatma rubbed his eyes. “I wasn’t, but then there was the crash. I just needed to see him again, that’s all.”

  “Why?” asked Sam.

  Aatma jumped up and lit another cigarette. “There’s something you don’t know. In fact, nobody knows but me.”

  They waited in expectant silence and Rose noted Sam’s nose wrinkling and realised he’d caught a scent, but this time he looked like a predator.

  Sam’s eyes bored into Aatma and he said, “Is it something to do with yesterday’s crash? Or with Mayur’s death?”

  Aatma turned and stared at them with wide, frightened eyes. “No, it’s nothing to do with Mayur’s death. Or yesterday’s crash. It’s about the original crash, with me and Jono and… Vadhana.”

  She watched him pace to and fro. He spoke as he walked.

  “You see, I needed to find out how much Jono remembered. I can’t believe that after all this time he still has no memory of that day.”